A STRANGE PHENOMENON IN CALIFORNIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 7259, 14 January 1892, Page 4

A STRANGE PHENOMENON IN CALIFORNIA.

♦ FORMATION OF TWO LAKGE LAKES. A geological phenomenon of consldbrable importance has appeared in San Diego County, in the extreme south of California. It consists in the almost sudden formation of an inland sea. On Saturday a trickling of *ater was observed to damp the ground around the Saltnn Salt Works, and now it has expanded into a lake ten miles square, and from three to eight feet deep. Then at Indian Wells, 60 miles south of Salton, another new sea, 40 mtleß square and from three to five feet deep, has been formed. It appears possible that these bodies of water may unite, and form a lake 50 miles long and 400 ft deep. Indian runners have been employed to go round the rising waters, aud as they have failed to find any surface inlet a boat has been provisioned for a week, and started to explore and try to discover the connection with the Colorada river, whence the water Is believed to come, whether above ground or by a subterranean communication. The ao called Colorado Desert, lyiDg to the east of the new lake, resembles the bed of a dead sea. It has an area of three thousand miles, end lies two hundred and seventy feet below the ccaan level. Shells and other marine deposits abound . Engineers have often planned to make this area fertile by irrigation, after the manner of the Valley of the Nile, which would add two million aores to the State, but all their efforts bo far have been in vain. The Southern Pacific Bailway crosses the Colorado at several places 160 ft above the ocean. For twelve miles near Yum a (Arizona City) only a looae, water-sodden ridge, nine feet high and a mile wide, separates the district from the Salton Sink. All the district appear? now to be revolting to the condition described in Indian tradition. The stoppage of several artesian wells conflicts with the theory of a subterranean ocean, having a current running inland. Beuter's ]Sew York correspondent telegraphs : — Despatches received trom Yuma, Arizona, announce that a salt lake of considerable extent has been forming ;.t Salton during the past few days. The New York World correspondent, who hai returned to San Jose from the scene of the flood, declares that the lake is the result of the earthquakes which shook the whole of Sonthern California last week. He was with a number of Indians on a hunting trip, and camped ia a canyon 50 miles from Sa'ton on the night of the earthquakes, which were felc with fearful distinctness in the mountains. The canyen was very dry on Saturday evening, but at daylight, shortly after the eartV quakes, water was found everywhere on the ground, as if a heavy rainfall had occurred. The water had a brackish taste, however, showing that it could not have come from the clouds One of the Indians reported that there were great change? in the appearance of the mountains. He point dto a huge gorge, apparently fathomless, which he said had not been there before. Smaller rents were seen in other places. Along the r.-ute to Salton there were indications of a violent upheaval, and pools of water were to be seen in many places that were before kno»vn to have been dry. Springs have been overflowing, and the Colorado Kiver has risen considerably ; but no such quantity of water as now threatens to engulf the alkali lands in the vicinity of ea'ton could come from the river. The Colorado Desert is situated in San Diego, county California, and covers 3,000 square miles.

The youngest member of the House of Commons ia Mr Victor C. W. Cavendish, now Lord Bartington, who represents the Western Division of Derbyshire in aucceaaion to his late father Lord Edward Cavendish. Ha is 23 years of age, and bears a very striking resemblance to his distinguished uncle now; 1 Duke of Devonshire. A matt singular circumstance in conneciion with hia election in May of this year is that his return was assented t» by both political parties. Aitsr Lord flartingtnn, he will succeed his veoerable grandfather to the Dukedom ot Devonshire. News from Rotorua Btates that the tourist trhflic i» very busy at present, laige numberj arriving at the Lakes daily, and there are indications of inctejed activity amongst the touriats' agents during the coming leasoni